So when deer are forced to stay in their beds for extended periods of time by extremely harsh weather, they are often ravenously hungry when the weather conditions finally improve. Both prior to and after the arrival of a major storm are both excellent times to go deer hunting because the deer will be not only be feeding actively, they will also be single-mindedly focused on their task making them less wary than usual.
You could also make your life a lot easier by using a quality deer attractant to make them come to you. While we have so far discussed how whitetail deer react to wind, rain, and snow, we have not yet discussed their reaction to extreme cold. The fact is that human hunters use excessively cold temperatures as an excuse not to go hunting just as often as in the wind, rain, or snow!
Deer live outdoors twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. They also have a thick fur coat made from course, hollow, hairs combined with relatively thick skin and a thick layer of subcutaneous fat. So, they are not bothered by the extremes in weather as we humans do with our thin skins and lack of fur. But, that is not to say that deer are altogether unaffected by cold weather.
In fact, their reaction to cold is very similar to their reaction to both wind and rain in that as long the cold is relatively mild, they tend to be significantly more active. They are more active in feeding than earlier in the year because their bodies require more calories to generate heat in cold weather.
Deer tend to hide during periods when the overnight lows dip down to single digits and below due to an arctic blast from the north, as well. They do this in order to conserve valuable body heat and then rise and move out to feed once the Sun has been up for a while and the ambient air temperature has risen a bit.
They also tend to feed most heavily just prior to the arrival of such air masses so that they can store enough energy to allow them to be able to lounge in their beds until the air warms a bit. Regardless of the type of weather, however, getting a clean ethical kill is a must-have for any conscience-driven hunter.
Our veteran hunters have rounded up and explained the best shot placements on deer when hunting with either a rifle or a bow: Where to Shoot a Deer — Aiming for the Best Kill Zone Placement.
But the couple days just prior to the arrival of a major storm or cold air mass as well as the first couple of days after its passing can actually provide hunters with the best possible opportunity to fill their tags for the season.
Rather than disparage bad weather, deer hunters should instead learn to embrace it since both its coming and going herald some of the best days of the year for deer hunting. Are you looking for a rich and trustworthy resource of expert outdoor tips, gear reviews, and hot survival topics with a heavy emphasis on hunting and fishing? Bronson has also researched deer movement during the moon phases to determine if it has any effect on when deer move.
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Still, most biologists we reached out to referenced the three PSU studies as the accepted, leading data on the relationship between daytime deer movement and wind. Still, even those who side with the opposite camp relate just how vital wind is.
Many hunters have long sat on the sidelines during windy days. They believed efforts under such conditions were futile, unnecessary, and without reward. Based on the research, the old saying that deer move less on windy days isn't true. Instead, bucks seem to move a lot more in the wind.
While we don't necessarily know precisely why bucks move more on windier days, we can speculate. Regardless, whether we'll ever determine the why or not, we still know that they do move more. That alone should be enough to encourage hunters to head afield on windier days. Remember that it is safer to hunt from the ground than elevated positions during windy conditions. Furthermore, based on data, bucks seem to use wind direction and perhaps speed to help choose their bedding area and travel routes each day, too.
This and more makes monitoring the wind important. Dallas Barber, big game biologist with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, makes additional points.
What's even more important is that, due to the common myth that deer move less on a windy day, you'll likely have the woods to yourself under such conditions. So, pack your gear and hit the woods because you'll likely encounter fewer hunters and less competition. All said wind alone isn't the only factor that helps increase or decrease deer movement. Consider other things, such as the fact that deer are crepuscular animals, meaning they move most at dawn and dusk, regardless of the conditions.
While most bucks seem to move more on windier days , that might not be true for every deer in every situation. General research is excellent, but it doesn't do much for hunters other than debunking an old myth. This usually happens when the deer begin to run out of food, or during the autumn season.
During the spring time or the rainy season, deer tend to showcase more activity in the day. We have already highlighted the fact that weather affects the movement of deer during the course of the day.
Deer usually travel from their safe area and venture out in search of food. However, if the weather conditions are not suitable for them, they usually change their plan. For instance, if it starts raining, deer like to hide and cover their bodies under long plantations. During the winter season, deer tend to move around in the sunny areas to get an adequate supply of heat and to get food. During the summer months, deer usually seek abode close to the sources of water, and their peak movements usually take off at around 8 a.
Cloudy skies are usually the best for deer activity. However, as mentioned above, rain restricts their movement considerably. During the windy weather, their movements are also affected.
So, if the weather is rainy or windy, you can pretty much take a guess that the deer are hidden under the plantations. Deer also prefer to hide in their bedding during the day time. Deer tend to expend a great deal of energy during the course of the day, and they usually prefer to get a quick nap in the daylight.
Deer usually like to hide in thick bushes during the day, and they cover themselves up very well. In some cases, female deer also help the newborn deer to hide properly, and they even tuck them in before plopping beside them in a protective stance.
However, you should know that these instances are relatively little; deer prefer to stay up during the day time. When they are searching for food, they usually move around in open areas, and for such movements, they prefer the night. On the other hand, when the sun begins to rise, deer usually begin to move forward for their food, and begin to return when dawn nears. So, if you want to track deer as they move in hunt of their food, you might want to start when the sunlight is still spreading.
But, unlike most animals, deer activity tends to intensify during the fall rut, and you can easily see these animals rambling about more often. In some cases, deer tend to move throughout the day and night during the fall rut.
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